In conclusion, Syberia II is a classic adventure game and a competent follow-up title to the original Syberia. There is no violence or unpleasantness in this game, nor is there any high stress action sequence. The game carries an overall theme of respect for the cultures that Kate meets. The ending draws a satisfactory conclusion to the series, but also a slight feeling of regret that this is over so soon.

You will be delighted by Syberia II. It isn't perfect, but no game is. You can tell it has been created with passion and feeling. It didn't simply meander to the finishing line, but stayed strong and surprising. Like the final part of The Lord of the Rings, the completion of the journey of Hans and Kate deserves the highest marks.

Syberia II is not meant to be rushed through, it is intended to be savored, tasted by every side of the gaming tongue, plate licked clean in a leisurely spell of sensual gluttony. Eyes, ears, brain too—all of my gaming senses were engaged and satiated by this sumptuous repast. No, it is not perfect; it may not even have at its core a very good game (although I certainly enjoyed it). But it is a masterwork when viewed as an exemplar of the video game as art, one of the very best fusions of story and imagery extant in the medium today, and for that reason alone it deserves a place in the eventual Electronic Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Two things impressed Vermin and I the most about Syberia 2. First, its production values feel so luxurious it’s hard to believe an adventure game would get such a budget these days. Second, from stem to stern the game feels like it was built by people who loved their work. The loving details that went into this game are so numerous and delightful, you’ll want to play this game very slowly and savor it all. This is the most TLC-drenched game I’ve played since Anachronox.

Here's the short version: Syberia II is out, and it's good. Buy it. Buy it NOW. You want more details than that? Then read on. The first Syberia (which I'll call Syberia I) appeared in 2002 with all the impact of a woolly mammoth in Times Square. Conventional wisdom said the intelligent, funny, thought-provoking adventure game was extinct, a victim of the testosterone-ruled marketplace. No shooting, no babes, no ichor-dripping demons, and puzzles that require more brains than adrenalin -- you must be nuts to release a game like that. But Microïds bucked the industry sages and released it all the same, blessings be on their fuzzy Canadian heads. Têtes. Whatever.

Even with a less than fulfilling epilogue, Syberia 2 and its acclaimed precursor account for one of the most enjoyable and rewarding point-and-click adventures I’ve ever experienced. Both games are well worth checking out, regardless of whether or not you count yourself a fan of the genre.

For many people, enjoying this game to the fullest will hinge on how much of a tradeoff they are willing to make between the story and the puzzles. Many of the original’s most vocal supporters loved it because of the storyline while many of its detractors criticized it for the lack of challenge. The developers took note of this and made a concerted effort to put in a greater variety of puzzles, but in doing so, the story — in some respects — falls by the wayside just a bit. However, the quality of the game as a whole is so outstanding that you will be willing to accept what is now a great story with improved puzzles, instead of what was a superb story with lackluster puzzles. Everyone should be able to find something — most likely many things — to admire about this game and I recommend it highly to everyone.

It’s a rare thing for me to give a rating of 90% or higher to a game, but that’s just what I did in my review of Syberia in September of 2002. Syberia was easily my favorite adventure since The Longest Journey in 2000, and since nothing great has come out since then, it still is. Syberia II, obviously, is the sequel to Syberia, and while it’s still a pretty good adventure, it doesn’t have the same magic for me that Syberia did, and so it’s going to have to be content with an 88%.

There is still one thing that makes this game almost unique and this happens because of the producers’ courage towards I bow with respect. People, this game has an ending, a real ending. It's true we never know what happens to Kate but it's not she the central character, but Hans. It's all about Hans's dream if you remember correctly. I now think that a beautiful ending can be an innovation. It's also a lesson for the other producers to take note of. I've had it with sequels, prequels, remakes or any other combination between these. I want real endings because only this way a new beginning may take place or why not, a new revolution. Only this way we can enjoy what's to come. Benoit Sokal is a genius. I've said it. Congrats dude and peace to you all!

In 2002 Syberia was exactly what the adventure genre needed. It was a superb game in many ways, and while Syberia 2 may not be as innovative today as Syberia was back then, it’s still a very solid sequel. The storyline isn’t entirely as interesting as it was in the previous incarnation, and not all the characters may be as fleshed out as they could be but it still does a good job of concluding the story. Syberia 2’s presentation is also very, very good. The game-world truly comes to life, more so than ever. The audio is also no less than great, even though there’s still some room for improvement.

Through its faults, Syberia II conjures a little bit of that magic common during the golden days of adventure games. It has a great, albeit short, storyline that grips you from the get-go. Plus, the story's sense of urgency does a nice job balancing the languid pace of its gameplay. What's more, superb graphics, sound and music push Syberia II above being good, and just short of being great. During an adventure game drought though, Syberia II is a real winner -- a refreshing game rich in narrative, gameplay and style.

Syberia II is not only for those who have played Syberia I. The detailed recap of the first game, and the way the introduction and first dialogues unfold, are enough to familiarize new players with Kate's world. As for those who cannot wait to see what happened to Kate after she found Hans in Syberia I, and counted the days to the sequel, they will not be disappointed. They will love this game as much as they loved its ancestor. Wonderful 3D animation in 3D environments, a plot that makes you wonder where the next cinematic will take you, and pure point-and-click adventure action. It is an adventure that should be in your collection, especially if you have not experienced Syberia I. If you like 3rd person perspective adventures, you will love this Mircroids' little wonder.

Even in it’s earliest development stages, Syberia II looked to outdo its predecessor in graphical quality. The finished product is no less than absolutely amazing – a playable work of art that doesn’t skimp on the details, no matter how small. From reflections in puddles to the way the protagonist, Kate Walker, slips in the snow, Syberia II is a joy to look at. The pre-rendered backgrounds and the high-caliber cutscenes showcase a traditional point-and-click adventure game – a genre that is practically extinct – that falls short of absolute excellence thanks to a weaker story than the original. (And I really hesitate to describe it as "weaker.")

Overall, I just got a very positive feeling from playing the sequel. Benoît and the rest of the crew hit a home run here so to speak. The game flows beautifully and it is a joy to play. The game world is rich and detailed and backed up by some good narrative, excellent art design and sound work. The only real gripe I had with Syberia II is that it doesn't bother to hide the fact it's a niche product. What this means is that the designers are assuming you're a fan and not just a guy/gal looking to give this new adventure game a try - even if it is a sequel. That's not a good way ease newcomers into your elaborate fantasy world.

Syberia II is a fine game to play, and should be picked up by anyone who didn’t have the chance to play the original. The game has a great feel to it simply because it’s packaged together so nicely with sound, graphics, and gameplay. Where you may encounter problems is if you’ve already played the original, because this sequel certainly does not live up the lofty height of its predecessor. Syberia II is victim of being a follow up to one of the best adventure titles ever made, but don’t let that stop of you from enjoying a game that is still above most of what’s available in this genre. If I enjoyed this game at all, there’s NO WAY you won’t.

Needless to say, the sequels are almost always harder to produce than original products, as people are expecting much more in terms of production values. But I guess Syberia 2 is a worthy sequel to a great game. The story that makes you think and feel that you are there. If you like point&click adventure games, Syberia II is definitely a game you should pick up.

The overall presentation of Syberia II is excellent. Easily one of the best adventures games so far this year. The character depth is not as strong as the first, but it answers some burning questions and in my opinion, the end opens up a whole new bottle of what now? A must for Kate Walker fans. Others may not get it.

Syberia II is filled with attractive, memorable touches like that. At the same time, it's a bit of a letdown compared to the superlative first game: The story is solid but not as engaging, some puzzles could have used reworking, the locales suffer from a certain monotony or even blandness at times, and the game as a whole feels a bit shorter, too. While Syberia II only sometimes captures the elusive magic of the original game, it's still one of the finer adventure games to come out in the last couple of years. Its production values alone put it well above most of its peers. While Syberia II isn't all that fans might have hoped for, it's still a very fine game and likely to provide you with hours of enjoyment.

As a standalone game, Syberia 2 is a very good adventure title. However, as the sequel to the excellent Syberia, it is quite disappointing. The story is too segmented to be enjoyable, the puzzles are not as rewarding as in the first part and most importantly, the game fails to elicit the same kind of emotional response from the player that its predecessor did. In addition, technical problems and a short game length further detract from the overall value of the game. On the other hand, the superb soundtrack and almost poetic graphics make this title eye candy for everybody who likes to relax with a game where the speed of the progress doesn't matter. If you look for a good-looking title where you don't have to use your brain too much, this game is right for you. Serious adventure gamers, however, may want to consider waiting for a price drop or the inevitable Syberia compilation.

Where the game really shines is in its visuals. But as anyone who has watched Jessica Simpson’s TV show can tell you, being pretty to look at is no guarantee of horsepower under the hood. Syberia II is a seriously intended and well-made game and its heart is in the right place, but I got tired of it sooner than I expected. The periodic injections of wonder and delight don’t come as often as they did in the original Syberia, and in between such moments, the landscape can start to feel a little desolate.

Syberia II might provide a conclusion in Kate Walker’s efforts to help a feeble old man discover the legend that’s always existed just outside his reach, but it’s a quest that gives you unwelcome peeks beneath the veneer. Look under all the artistic merit, and you’ll find nothing but a checklist of unfocused ideas, clumsy implementations and the last half of a quest best left unfinished.

The worst part about finishing Syberia II, though, was the knowledge that the game isn't actually awful, it's merely pedestrian. Had this been the first game in a series, it would have taken its three stars and moved on to bargain-bin oblivion. Unfortunately, when you're following up the 2002 Adventure Game of the Year, the standards go up a bit. In the end, Syberia II not only fails to live up to its illustrious predecessor, but is only average when considered on its own. If you're really looking for a quality adventure game, you should hunt down the original. If you're a Syberia fan, Syberia II will leave you wishing they'd quit while they were ahead.